I'm sure many of you knew that Nigeria means "Nigeria Area". But what you all may not know is what the word Niger means. I just learned that that word means darkness. That means Nigeria means "Darkness Area". Is that why we've not been able to sort the power problem? Or do you think that the name has had adverse effect on our country?

It is a sign of our mental and moral paralysis that we have been unable to change to a Nigerian name in all the years of our existence.
Many smaller countries with self pride have done it, even here in W.Africa there are examples like Bukina Faso and Ghana.

I suggest that we name the country after the smallest ethnic group we have.

Beaf:

It is a sign of our mental and moral paralysis that we have been unable to change to a Nigerian name in all the years of our existence.
Many smaller countries with self pride have done it, even here in W.Africa there are examples like Bukina Faso and Ghana.

I suggest that we name the country after the smallest ethnic group we have.

Which is? You want make Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba cut off your head?

afam4eva:

Which is? You want make Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba cut off your head?

In all civilised societies, the smallest are respected. The Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba triangle is what has driven Nigeria to despair and corruption, cos its a "winner" takes all arrangement; phuck the damn minorities.

The smallest group would most likely be found in Adamawa or Taraba.

why not call it Ijaw Nation

Beaf:

In all civilised societies, the smallest are respected. The Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba triangle is what has driven Nigeria to despair and corruption, cos its a "winner" takes all arrangement; phuck the damn minorities.

The smallest group would most likely be found in Adamawa or Taraba.

Yes, you're right. I know that in India, a minority group's language was made the official language.

blacksta:

why not call it Ijaw Nation

Ijaw has become a majority overnight.

Nigga area?

Like I aforementioned, for those who share same mental pabulum( food for taught), who understand the modus operandi and the tripudio of the ''born to rule'' shibboleth, the Lord Lugard amalgam of 1914 is a revilement to our collective intellectual sagaciousness, an affront to our collective mythical being. Now it is becoming expositus that the  failed state called Nigeria means 'Darkness area'.

I must really commend the op for this magnus maior maximus piece of information

It means darkness you are right

Beaf:

It is a sign of our mental and moral paralysis that we have been unable to change to a Nigerian name in all the years of our existence.
Many smaller countries with self pride have done it, even here in W.Africa there are examples like Bukina Faso and Ghana.

I suggest that we name the country after the smallest ethnic group we have.

The best post of the week by me.

Whats in a name you ask= Everything.

You wonder why our people go a long way in naming their children names like Nifemi, Nkiru, Arigo, Omonefe, etc., with ceremonies, feast, and galantry, yet we have joined our grandfathers to answer Nigeria without even thinking about it. Not EVEN THINKING ABOUT IT.

However, the whole world sees the name Nigeria and knows EXACTLY what it means= NI.GGA AREA. And low and behold, see how the country has been and continues to be.

Even neighboring Rep. of Benin (wow that sounds familiar Nigga/Dark-Areans) took a proper name, but us- no. We cant wait for the next Chelsea match or Pastor night vigil.

lol nigerians literally scale the globe looking for reasons to feel inferior.
now we hate our NAME and are praising a country named after us. lol.
it's unfortunate.


Nigeria means Niger Area. Niger is a river, the world means black, which, believe it or not, is not a deragatory word.
a couple of african countries carry the 'area' name

Liberia (liberated area)
algeria (Algers area)

You can rename Nigeria, Nairaland. I and Seun will hold copyright .

Brilliant innit?

Huh? I thought the country was named after the Niger River.

The Niger is called Jeliba or Joliba "great river" in Manding, Orimiri or Orimili "great water" in Igbo, Egerew n-Igerewen "river of rivers" in Tuareg, Isa Ber "big river" in Songhay, and Oya in Yoruba. The origin of the name Niger, which originally applied only to the middle reaches of the river, is uncertain. The likeliest possibility is an alteration, by influence of Latin niger "black", of the Tuareg name egerew nigerewen, which is used along the middle reaches of the river around Timbuktu.[4][5] As Timbuktu was the southern end of the principal Trans-Saharan trade route to the western Mediterranean, it was the source of most European knowledge of the region.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niger_River

@OP
Everything about Nigeria connotes darkness (blackness) including the area. Niger is (dark blue) or black color. It could also mean Negro (black) in Spanish/Portuguese.

Ikengawo,

With Liberia & Algeria, Nigeria is in good company in deed. War & extremism/wasted oil resources. Lol.

The word Nigeria was coined by the British to indicate the area around the Niger River (Niger Area)

afam4eva:

I'm sure many of you knew that Nigeria means "Nigeria Area". But what you all may not know is what the word Niger means. I just learned that that word means darkness. That means Nigeria means "Darkness Area". Is that why we've not been able to sort the power problem? Or do you think that the name has had adverse effect on our country?

Darkness? where did you get that from?

y me:

The word Nigeria was coined by the British to indicate the area around the Niger River (Niger Area)

So, what's the meaning of the niger part of river niger.

@ McLatunji,

Seun idea seconded.

At least Seun will know how to "select" better moderators/leaders than the efulefu that INEC mostly throws up every 4 years.

Nigeria is actually a fine country. The only problem is this Evil religion called Islam.

Lol, na true ooo. We suppose rename this country. Make I think berra name

I hate that Islam with a great passion.

abdulkoro:

I hate that Islam with a great passion.

Islam loves you

This letter was written to the president of Nigeria in the 80's

This letter was written to the president of Nigeria in the 80's

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-521853.0.html

Hmmm,little wonder.

If it isn't about superstition, the word "niger" is the latin for "black". That is also the origin of the word "negro" and the derogatory "nigger". But if you want to translate it as "darkness" it's all good.

afam4eva:

So, what's the meaning of the niger part of river niger.

its a derivative of Portuguese nigre meaning walking dead  
Niger the country is Okay in saying, but not the cuss word way.


Niger comes from the latin meaning black so called from the black seed


Too many crazy meanings

I say we all decide to split the darn country!!!! I detest it even more with every single day that passes.

OMO Naija ni mi o.

Since Niger means darkness, Lumen has to do with light, then Lumen Area=Lumeria